When I was about six years old, my family started an initiative to visit all the national parks of the United States. After many miles in an old suburban, I have visited dozens of parks all over the country. These experiences have inspired my interest in preserving the environment. I have been fortunate to meet many naturalists and park rangers that dedicated their careers to critical research and education. They helped me see the impacts of climate change firsthand. This direct experience has provided me with an authenticity that helps me advocate for various environmental protection topics. Most importantly, I have dedicated my education and future career to clean energy. I am studying chemical engineering at the University of Arizona with a focus on clean energy. I am from Minnesota and considered colleges all over the country. I chose to attend the University of Arizona due to the depth of research related to clean energy and other environmental conservation topics. Engineers will solve many problems for society, especially those related to environmental protection, and chemical engineering specifically, will solve problems in various areas especially related to clean energy. Solar power, biofuels, and battery technologies are just a few examples of clean energy solutions chemical engineers will address, and a sustainable solution is key. I am participating in a research effort funded by the Department of Energy. This project is part of a DOE Energy Frontier Research Center that is led by the University of Arizona. The project is researching soft photo-electrochemical systems. One of the outcomes of this research could improve the efficiency of organic solar panels, and a specific technology we are pursuing would enable very thin and transparent panels that could be applied to windows. While the Department of Energy is funding the research, the Department of Defense is also showing interest in the flexible panels for use as a source of energy on the uniforms of soldiers. The type of research we are doing is critical to advances in clean energy that will preserve the environment. My research contributions will continue with increased responsibility. I am very grateful to participate in this important work, which is a source of constant motivation. I am eager to learn more and work hard to make a difference. My drive to find success in this field will help me lead by example and continue advocating for the environment. Thank you for considering me for this scholarship.

The fight against climate change is an issue that holds immense personal significance for me. I have witnessed climate change's devastating effects, including glaciers melting faster than any recorded period, rising sea levels, and various ecosystems changing with destructive results. These issues are fueling my passion to find solutions. I strive to positively impact the environment through my daily actions, educational efforts, advocacy, and career aspirations. This multifaceted approach reflects my unwavering commitment to preserving the planet's delicate ecosystems. Daily activities that encourage sustainability include minimizing the use of disposable materials, minimizing the use of fossil fuels, and conserving energy. I use reusable water bottles, avoid other disposable plastic, including straws, prioritize businesses that use recycled or compostable materials, and recycle everything I can. I also carpool when possible and even encouraged my parents to purchase a plug-in hybrid vehicle, and our next family vehicle will be all-electric. Equally important is conserving the energy we consume by ensuring our house is insulated, keeping the temperature a little warmer in the summer, and allowing it to be a little cooler in the winter. We can all make small changes in our lives that can improve our environment. Education and advocacy play another important part in how I positively impact the climate. I make significant efforts to visit environmentally fragile ecosystems, including national parks, wilderness areas, monuments, and state parks. This exposure to sensitive and protected natural environments has underscored the importance of mitigating the impact of climate change. I continue educating myself about climate impacts, and I tell friends and family about the importance of climate change. I also intend to work on more advocacy in the future. Convincing people to make small changes in their consumption practices and minor lifestyle choices will make meaningful progress for our environment. My career goal will enable me to contribute to education and advocacy about climate-friendly practices. However, if my job doesn't allow me to contribute to this goal, I will support non-profit groups focusing on this critical education and advocacy need. My career goals are to improve the natural environment and mitigate the impact of climate change. I am studying chemical engineering with a focus on clean energy. Various clean energy solutions offer exciting opportunities to help solve climate change challenges. Solar power, biofuels, and battery technologies are just a few examples of clean energy solutions that chemical engineers could address. I am eager to continue studying these subjects and improve the world. Thank you for considering me for this scholarship.

The fight against climate change is an issue that holds immense personal significance for me. I have witnessed climate change's devastating effects, including glaciers melting faster than any recorded period, rising sea levels, and various ecosystems changing with destructive results. These issues are fueling my passion to find solutions. I strive to positively impact the environment through my daily actions, educational efforts, advocacy, and career aspirations. This multifaceted approach reflects my unwavering commitment to preserving the planet's delicate ecosystems. Daily activities that encourage sustainability include minimizing the use of disposable materials, minimizing the use of fossil fuels, and conserving energy. I use reusable water bottles, avoid other disposable plastic, including straws, prioritize businesses that use recycled or compostable materials, and recycle everything I can. I also carpool when possible and even encouraged my parents to purchase a plug-in hybrid vehicle, and our next family vehicle will be all-electric. Equally important is conserving the energy we consume by ensuring our house is insulated, keeping the temperature a little warmer in the summer, and allowing it to be a little cooler in the winter. We can all make small changes in our lives that can improve our environment. Education and advocacy play another important part in how I positively impact the climate. I make significant efforts to visit environmentally fragile ecosystems, including national parks, wilderness areas, monuments, and state parks. This exposure to sensitive and protected natural environments has underscored the importance of mitigating the impact of climate change. I continue educating myself about climate impacts, and I tell friends and family about the importance of climate change. I also intend to work on more advocacy in the future. Convincing people to make small changes in their consumption practices and minor lifestyle choices will make meaningful progress for our environment. My career goal will enable me to contribute to education and advocacy about climate-friendly practices. However, if my job doesn't allow me to contribute to this goal, I will support non-profit groups focusing on this critical education and advocacy need. My career goals are to improve the natural environment and mitigate the impact of climate change. I am studying chemical engineering with a focus on clean energy. Various clean energy solutions offer exciting opportunities to help solve climate change challenges. Solar power, biofuels, and battery technologies are just a few examples of clean energy solutions that chemical engineers could address. I am eager to continue studying these subjects and improve the world. Thank you for considering me for this scholarship.

My name is Andrew Vos. I am a graduate of Minnetonka High School in Minnetonka, MN. I graduated with a GPA of 3.9, and my favorite subject was chemistry. I was a captain of the Track and Field and Cross Country teams and a member of the National Honor Society. I have been a language immersion student since kindergarten, so I am bilingual in English and Spanish. Outside of school, I earned the rank of Eagle Scout from Scouts BSA and received the Presidential Award for Community Service. I am a sophomore at the University of Arizona studying Chemical Engineering in the Honors College. I am participating in research on Soft PhotoElectro Chemical Systems (SPECS). The Department of Energy's Energy Frontier Research Center funds the research. One of the research outcomes could be transparent solar panels made of organic materials. This has been a formative experience that will guide my future academic and professional work. Outside of school, I consider myself a good brother, son, and friend. I am an avid runner and enjoy skiing, basketball, and travel. International travel interests me, but I have been focused on visiting U.S. National Parks. Thirteen years ago, my family started an initiative to visit all the United States national parks. I have seen 58 of the 63 National Parks. These visits to National Parks and other protected areas have influenced my interest in protecting the environment. Visiting with Park Rangers and Naturalists has been an inspiration. I have been fortunate to meet many people who have dedicated their careers to critical research and education. Seeing the impacts of climate change firsthand has been transformative for me. Glaciers that are thousands of years old are melting at a fast pace. Sea levels are rising. Habitats of forests, deserts, grasslands, and wetlands are changing. This has inspired me to study engineering to solve problems and create solutions that will enable improvements to our natural environment and the effects of climate change. I have been fortunate to visit dozens of fascinating places, and I will pay it forward by helping protect them for future generations. Clean energy is the driver of my studies. Various clean energy technologies offer exciting opportunities to help solve climate change challenges. Solar power, biofuels, and battery technologies are just a few examples of clean energy solutions chemical engineers can address. Making the world a better place through success in my engineering career begins with my college experience. The courses I am taking are building a foundation for my future. My research is making advancements in areas essential to a clean energy future. So, I am energized and motivated to continue my work. However, college is expensive. I am very conscientious about the cost of tuition and living expenses, and I am committed to minimizing student loan debt. So, I maintain a part-time job to help cover expenses. Scholarships will help me reduce working hours and focus on study and research, thus directly contributing to the quality of my education and, as a result, the ability to make the world a better place by delivering clean energy solutions. I appreciate your consideration.

I don't care about money. That is what I hear many people say when planning their future careers. I admire the spirit of their dedication to meaningful pursuits, but it is naive to assume that money doesn't matter. It matters—a lot. Money will not make you happy by itself, but it does help enable happiness. I need at least enough money to be secure enough to spend time on the things that matter most to me. Establishing that level of security will come from being conservative with my spending, avoiding debt, and pursuing employment with good compensation. That security is the very beginning of success. The most important element of success is spending time the way I choose, and I decide to make the world a better place by advancing clean energy initiatives. That desire has been building in me for most of my life. Thirteen years ago, my family started an initiative to visit all the United States national parks. I have seen 58 of the 63 National Parks. These visits to National Parks and other protected areas have influenced my interest in protecting the environment. Visiting with Park Rangers and Naturalists has been an inspiration. I have been fortunate to meet many people who have dedicated their careers to critical research and education. Seeing the impacts of climate change firsthand has been transformative for me. Glaciers that are thousands of years old are melting at a fast pace. Sea levels are rising. Habitats of forests, deserts, grasslands, and wetlands are changing. This has inspired me to study engineering to solve problems and create solutions that will enable improvements to our natural environment and the effects of climate change. I have been fortunate to visit dozens of fascinating places, and I will pay it forward by helping protect them for future generations. I am a chemical engineering major at the University of Arizona. The emphasis of my studies is clean energy. Various clean energy technologies offer exciting opportunities to help solve climate change challenges. Solar power, biofuels, and battery technologies are just a few examples of clean energy solutions chemical engineers can address. I chose to study at the University of Arizona because of its interdisciplinary engineering research on clean energy, especially various solar power research projects. I have been fortunate to participate in a research project focused on Soft PhotoElectro Chemical Systems (SPECS), which the Department of Energy funds through an Energy Frontier Research Center. Making the world a better place through success in my engineering career begins with my college experience. The courses I am taking are building a foundation for my future. My research is making advancements in areas essential to a clean energy future. So, I am energized and motivated to continue my work. However, college is expensive. I am very conscientious about the cost of tuition and living expenses, and I am committed to minimizing student loan debt. So, I maintain a part-time job to help cover expenses. The time commitments for research, class time, study, and work are difficult to manage. Ultimately, I often need to prioritize between lab time for research and work. I am seeking scholarships to enable more time to study and research. Scholarships will directly contribute to the quality of my education and, as a result, the ability to make the world a better place by delivering clean energy solutions. I appreciate your consideration.

Thirteen years ago, my family started an initiative to visit all the United States national parks. I have seen 58 of the 63 National Parks. These visits to National Parks and other protected areas have influenced my interest in protecting the environment. Visiting with Park Rangers and Naturalists has been an inspiration. I have been fortunate to meet many people who have dedicated their careers to critical research and education. Seeing the impacts of climate change firsthand has been transformative for me. Glaciers that are thousands of years old are melting at a fast pace. Sea levels are rising. Habitats of forests, deserts, grasslands, and wetlands are changing. This has inspired me to study engineering to solve problems and create solutions that will enable improvements to our natural environment and the effects of climate change. I have been fortunate to visit dozens of fascinating places, and I will pay it forward by helping protect them for future generations. I am a chemical engineering major at the University of Arizona. The emphasis of my studies is clean energy. Various clean energy technologies offer exciting opportunities to help solve climate change challenges. Solar power, biofuels, and battery technologies are just a few examples of clean energy solutions chemical engineers can address. I chose to study at the University of Arizona because of its interdisciplinary engineering research on clean energy, especially various solar power research projects. I have been fortunate to participate in a research project focused on Soft PhotoElectro Chemical Systems (SPECS), which the Department of Energy funds through an Energy Frontier Research Center. Making the world a better place through success in my engineering career begins with my college experience. The courses I am taking are building a foundation for my future. My research is making advancements in areas essential to a clean energy future. So, I am energized and motivated to continue my work. However, college is expensive. I am very conscientious about the cost of tuition and living expenses, and I am committed to minimizing student loan debt. So, I maintain a part-time job to help cover expenses. The time commitments for research, class time, study, and work are difficult to manage. Ultimately, I often need to prioritize between lab time for research and work. I am seeking scholarships to enable more time to study and research. Scholarships will directly contribute to the quality of my education and, as a result, the ability to make the world a better place by delivering clean energy solutions. I appreciate your consideration.

It can be challenging to save when you are young. This is especially true during college. But the sooner you start, the better. The power of compounding is fantastic and most powerful with the benefit of time. Albert Einstein famously declared, "Compound interest is the eighth wonder of the world. He who understands it earns it. He who doesn't, pays it.” If young investors start making sound investments early in their lives, it will significantly improve the probability of financial independence later in life. As investment income is received and reinvested, it grows the size of your investment. Over time, it will create a compounding effect of earning income on your income. The earlier an investor starts, the more powerful this effect will become.  
 Investing early and often is a powerful path to financial independence. However, it is also essential to ensure investors limit the number of fees they pay. Low-cost mutual funds or ETFs are generally the best place to start. Funds that represent broad market indices have demonstrably outperformed most other funds. This fact is often difficult to realize because so many people try so hard to 'beat the market', despite decades of research proving that very few people consistently earn returns higher than the overall market, and when they do, it isn't by much and it doesn't last long. However, people will inevitably continue to believe the false promises of 'excess' returns. Avoiding these traps requires good education about the markets or good advice, and preferably both! The investment industry has hundreds of thousands of people eager to provide advice, but despite marketing slogans (and sometimes even beliefs of the people in question), these "advisors" typically suffer from conflicts of interest to "gather assets" so they can charge fees, or sell products to earn commission. Even those who adhere to fiduciary standards have conflicts of interest that most investors do not understand. Good advice is priceless, but it shouldn't be expensive if you search for the right people who want to help you. Be very careful about taking advice from people on YouTube and TicTok making grandiose proclamations that don't consider your needs as an individual. I am fortunate to have insights into the industry from my family, but everyone can find credible and unbiased information on bogleheads.org, or books from John Bogle. Spend a little time educating yourself about simple investing principles, and you will improve your financial situation and probably your happiness.

Thirteen years ago, my family started an initiative to visit all the national parks of the United States. There are currently 63 national parks, and my family has visited 58 of them. These experiences have inspired my interest in preserving the environment. I have been fortunate to meet many naturalists and park rangers that dedicated their careers to critical research and education. They helped me see the impacts of climate change firsthand. This direct experience has provided me with an authenticity that helps me advocate for various environmental protection topics. Most importantly, I have dedicated my education and future career to clean energy. I am studying chemical engineering at the University of Arizona with a focus on clean energy. I am from Minnesota and considered colleges all over the country. I chose to attend the University of Arizona due to the depth of research related to clean energy and other environmental conservation topics. Engineers will solve many problems for society, especially those related to environmental protection, and chemical engineering specifically, will solve problems in various areas especially related to clean energy. Solar power, biofuels, and battery technologies are just a few examples of clean energy solutions chemical engineers will address, and a sustainable solution is key. Last year, I participated in a research effort funded by the Department of Energy. This project is part of a DOE Energy Frontier Research Center that is led by the University of Arizona. The project is researching soft photo-electrochemical systems. One of the outcomes of this research could improve the efficiency of organic solar panels, and a specific technology we are pursuing would enable very thin and transparent panels that could be applied to windows. While the Department of Energy is funding the research, the Department of Defense is also showing interest in the flexible panels for use as a source of energy on the uniforms of soldiers. The type of research we are doing is critical to advances in clean energy that will preserve the environment. My research contributions will continue again this year, with increased responsibility. I am very grateful to participate in this important work, which is a source of constant motivation. I am eager to learn more and work hard to make a difference. My drive to find success in this field will help me lead by example and continue advocating for the environment. Thank you for considering me for this scholarship.

The dream version of my future self is an engineer that creates solutions to advance clean energy while being an inspiration to others that want to protect and preserve our environment.

My name is Andrew Vos. I am a graduate of Minnetonka High School in Minnetonka, MN. I graduated with a GPA of 3.9 and my favorite subject was chemistry. I was a captain of the Track & Field and Cross Country teams and a member of the National Honor Society. I was a language immersion student since kindergarten, so I am bilingual in English and Spanish. Outside of school, I earned the rank of Eagle Scout from Scouts BSA and received the Presidential Award for Community Service. Currently, I am a freshman at the University of Arizona studying Chemical Engineering in the Honors College. I am participating in research that includes solar panels made from organic materials. The research is funded by the Department of Energy's Energy Frontier Research Center. This has been a formative experience that will guide my future academic and professional work. Outside of school, I consider myself a good brother, son, and friend. I am an avid runner and also enjoy skiing, basketball, and travel. International travel is very interesting to me, but I have been mostly focused on visiting U.S. National Parks. I have visited 57 of the 63 National Parks so far, with more visits scheduled later this year. My visits to National Parks and other protected areas have influenced my interest in protecting the environment. Visiting with Park Rangers and Naturalists has been an inspiration. I have been fortunate to meet many people that have dedicated their careers to important research and education. Seeing the impacts of climate change firsthand has been transformative for me. Glaciers that are thousands of years old are melting at a fast pace. Sea levels are rising. Habitats of forests, deserts, grasslands, and wetlands are changing. This has inspired me to study engineering as a way to solve problems and create solutions that will enable improvements to our natural environment and the effects of climate change. I chose to study chemical engineering to create solutions that will advance clean energy. Various clean energy technologies offer exciting opportunities to help preserve our environment and mitigate climate change challenges. Solar power, biofuels, and battery technologies are just a few examples of clean energy solutions that will be addressed by chemical engineers. Successfully creating the technology to harness powerful sources of energy with renewable resources will be a major achievement. I am excited to be a part of it and make the world a better place. Thank you for your consideration, Andrew Vos

My name is Andrew Vos. I am a graduate of Minnetonka High School in Minnetonka, MN. I graduated with a GPA of 3.9 and my favorite subject was chemistry. I was a captain of the Track & Field and Cross Country teams and a member of the National Honor Society. I was a language immersion student since kindergarten, so I am bilingual in English and Spanish. Outside of school, I earned the rank of Eagle Scout from Scouts BSA and received the Presidential Award for Community Service. Currently, I am a freshman at the University of Arizona studying Chemical Engineering in the Honors College. I am participating in research that includes solar panels made from organic materials. The research is funded by the Department of Energy's Energy Frontier Research Center. This has been a formative experience that will guide my future academic and professional work. Outside of school, I consider myself a good brother, son, and friend. I am an avid runner and also enjoy skiing, basketball, and travel. International travel is very interesting to me, but I have been mostly focused on visiting U.S. National Parks. I have visited 57 of the 63 National Parks so far, with more visits scheduled later this year. My visits to National Parks and other protected areas have influenced my interest in protecting the environment. Visiting with Park Rangers and Naturalists has been an inspiration. I have been fortunate to meet many people that have dedicated their careers to important research and education. Seeing the impacts of climate change firsthand has been transformative for me. Glaciers that are thousands of years old are melting at a fast pace. Sea levels are rising. Habitats of forests, deserts, grasslands, and wetlands are changing. This has inspired me to study engineering as a way to solve problems and create solutions that will enable improvements to our natural environment and the effects of climate change. I chose to study chemical engineering to create solutions that will advance clean energy. Various clean energy technologies offer exciting opportunities to help preserve our environment and mitigate climate change challenges. Solar power, biofuels, and battery technologies are just a few examples of clean energy solutions that will be addressed by chemical engineers. Successfully creating the technology to harness powerful sources of energy with renewable resources will be a major achievement. I am excited to be a part of it and make the world a better place. Thank you for your consideration, Andrew Vos

My name is Andrew Vos. I am a graduate of Minnetonka High School in Minnetonka, MN. I graduated with a GPA of 3.9 and my favorite subject was chemistry. I was a captain of the Track & Field and Cross Country teams, a member of the National Honor Society. I was a language immersion student since kindergarten, so I am bilingual in English and Spanish. Outside of school, I earned the rank of Eagle Scout from Scouts BSA and received the Presidential Award for Community Service. Currently, I am a freshman at the University of Arizona studying Chemical Engineering in the Honors College. I am participating in research that includes solar panels made from organic materials. The research is funded by the Department of Energy's Energy Frontier Research Center. This has been a formative experience that will guide my future academic and professional work. Outside of school, I consider myself a good brother, son, and friend. I am an avid runner and also enjoy skiing, basketball, and travel. International travel is very interesting to me, but I have been mostly focused on visiting U.S. National Parks. I have visited 57 of the 63 National Parks so far, with more visits scheduled later this year. My visits to National Parks and other protected areas have influenced my interest in protecting the environment. Visiting with Park Rangers and Naturalists has been an inspiration. I have been fortunate to meet many people that have dedicated their careers to important research and education. Seeing the impacts of climate change firsthand has been transformative for me. Glaciers that are thousands of years old are melting at a fast pace. Sea levels are rising. Habitats of forests, deserts, grasslands, and wetlands are changing. This has inspired me to study engineering as a way to solve problems and create solutions that will enable improvements to our natural environment and the effects of climate change. I chose to study chemical engineering to create solutions that will advance clean energy. Various clean energy technologies offer exciting opportunities to help preserve our environment and mitigate climate change challenges. Solar power, biofuels, and battery technologies are just a few examples of clean energy solutions that will be addressed by chemical engineers. Successfully creating the technology to harness powerful sources of energy with renewable resources will be a major achievement. I am excited to be a part of it and make the world a better place. Thank you for your consideration, Andrew Vos

Science education can be encouraged by emphasizing the real-world application of science topics. Eleven years ago, my family started an initiative to visit all the national parks in the United States. There are currently 63 sites managed by the National Park Service with the "National Park" designation. My family has had various fantastic adventures while visiting 56 of them. But more importantly, I met many Park Rangers and Naturalists who have dedicated their careers to critical research and education. These people have been an inspiration and influenced my interest in environmental science. Seeing the impacts of climate change firsthand has been transformative for me. It is demonstrable that our planet is changing quickly. Glaciers formed over a hundred thousand years ago are melting faster than in any observable period. Oceans are rising. Habitats of forests, deserts, grasslands, and wetlands are changing. On a recent trip to Alaska, I saw roads that collapsed as a result of melting permafrost, which had previously functioned like bedrock. Observing these changes and experiencing the impacts on various ecosystems inspires me to protect them. If more people had opportunities to connect problems with solutions that can be provided through science, I am confident it would encourage more science education. Traditional classroom exposure to science topics is boring, and the content is abstract for most people. Thus, it is important to make the connection to real-world solutions. In junior high or high school, more focus on potential solutions that science can solve, and less focus on mundane topics like biology terminology or periodic tables, could encourage more interest in longer-term academic work. Climate change is happening. Human beings will continue to demand a quality of life that requires energy, and energy sources with lower carbon emissions are critical for the health of our planet. As a result, I am studying engineering to solve problems and create solutions that will enable improvements to our natural environment and the effects of climate change. Specifically, I am studying chemical engineering with a focus on clean energy. Various clean energy technologies offer exciting possibilities to preserve the environment. Solar power, biofuels, and battery technologies are just a few examples of clean energy solutions chemical engineers can address. Making the world a better place through success in my engineering career will begin with my college experience. Learning STEM fundamentals and participating in innovative research will be the first steps. I am very excited to be on this journey. My college experience is essential. However, I must graduate with limited debt to focus on my goals rather than prioritizing a need to pay student loans. This is why I am seeking financial support. Thank you for considering me for this scholarship.

My name is Andrew Vos from Minnetonka, Minnesota. I attended Minnetonka High School with a 3.9 GPA. I was a captain of the Track & Field and Cross Country teams. I am an Eagle Scout, a member of the National Honor Society, a recipient of the Presidential Award for Community Service and bilingual in Spanish and English. I enjoy skiing, basketball, and travel. International travel is very interesting to me, but I have been focused on visiting U.S. National Parks. I have visited 56 of the 63 National Parks so far, with plans to visit more next year. Currently, I am a freshman at the University of Arizona. I am an Engineering Major in the Honors College with a 4.0 first semester GPA. My visits to National Parks and other protected areas have influenced my interest in protecting the environment. Visiting with Park Rangers and Naturalists has been an inspiration. I have been fortunate to meet many people that have dedicated their careers to important research and education. Seeing the impacts of climate change firsthand has been transformative for me. Glaciers that are millions of years old are melting at a fast pace. Sea levels are rising. Habitats of forests, deserts, grasslands, and wetlands are changing. This has inspired me to study engineering as a way to solve problems and create solutions that will enable improvements to our natural environment and the effects of climate change. I intend to study chemical engineering with a focus on clean energy. Various clean energy technologies offer exciting opportunities to help solve climate change challenges. Solar power, biofuels, and battery technologies are just a few examples of clean energy solutions that will be addressed by chemical engineers. Successfully creating the technology to create powerful batteries with renewable resources would be a major achievement. The environmental impacts of mining precious metals have been devastating for some areas. So, just relieving the mining pressure on the environment could be a conservation victory. However, when considering the reduction of other fossil fuels that can be replaced with batteries, the positive impacts can multiply. I am currently participating in research at the University of Arizona. The research is managed by an Energy Frontier Research Center led by the University of Arizona, and funded by the U.S. Department of Energy. I am the only undergraduate student on the team. The research is focused on optimizing organic solar panels. The experience has reinforced my career choice and energizes me to continue my academic pursuits. Thank you for your consideration, Andrew Vos

Solving the impacts of climate change is the problem I am most passionate about. Travels to national parks and other natural environments have enabled me to observe the effects of climate change firsthand, and this has inspired me to help solve the problem. I take various actions to make a positive impact on the climate. My actions can be categorized into daily actions, education and advocacy, and career goals. Daily actions include minimizing the use of disposable materials and fossil fuels. I use reusable water bottles, avoid using other disposable plastic, including straws, I prioritize businesses that use recycled or compostable materials, and of course, I recycle everything I can. I also carpool when possible and even encouraged my parents to purchase a plug-in hybrid vehicle, and our next family vehicle will be electric. We can all make small changes in our lives that can make real improvements to our environment. Education and advocacy play another important part in how I make positive impacts on the climate. I have visited 51 of the 63 national parks, in addition to countless national monuments, memorials and state parks. This exposure to sensitive and protected natural environments has underscored the importance of mitigating the impact of climate change. I continue educating myself about climate impacts and I tell friends and family about the importance of climate change. I also intend to work on more advocacy in the future. Convincing people to make small changes in their consumption practices and minor lifestyle choices will make meaningful progress for our environment. I am hopeful that my career goal will enable me to contribute to education and advocacy about climate-friendly practices. However, if my job doesn't allow me to contribute to this goal, I will support non-profit groups that focus on this important education and advocacy need. My career goals are focused on improving the natural environment to mitigate the impact of climate change. I intend to study chemical engineering with a focus on clean energy. Various clean energy solutions offer exciting opportunities to help solve climate change challenges. Solar power, biofuels, and battery technologies are just a few examples of clean energy solutions that could be addressed by chemical engineers. The transferable skills learned by chemical engineers can also be applied to other related areas. As a result, studying chemical engineering is a high priority for me, and should enable me to make meaningful contributions to improving the environment. Thank you for considering me for this scholarship.

The best financial advice I have received is to minimize debt (like seeking scholarships) and invest early and often. This information is key to having financial literacy and, ultimately, financial independence. When self-educating about financial literacy, it is critical to ensure you seek advice from qualified and trusted sources. You must avoid the vast amount of bad information. Many people on YouTube and TikTok lack knowledge or are only motivated by increasing followers. Generally speaking, investors should be cautious about grandiose proclamations that don't consider your needs as an individual. The most important thing to remember regarding financial literacy is to ensure that your information and advice come from qualified sources with appropriate incentives for your success. Minimizing debt is critical and can be approached with an emphasis on different areas. One primary way to minimize debt is to minimize your spending. It sounds simple, but it is challenging to execute; Don't spend money you don't have. Avoid fancy apartments, expensive cars, and fancy restaurants. Live within your means. Another way to minimize debt is through hard work. College students should minimize student loans through work-study and part-time jobs. Many college students act like loan repayments are in the distant future, so they don't worry about it. Assuming debt without careful planning is a big mistake. One final thought about debt: try to limit debt to things that have the potential to appreciate, like real estate or yourself (like investing in education) Investing early (and often) is another core component of having financial literacy and security. The power of compounding is fantastic and most powerful with the benefit of time. Thus, people need to start investing while they are young. Suppose young investors start making sound investments, like broad market indices, early in their lives. In that case, it will significantly improve the probability of financial independence later in life. As dividends are received and reinvested, it grows the size of your investment. Over time, this has a compounding effect on earning dividends on your dividends. The earlier an investor starts, the more powerful this effect can become. In addition to investing early, it is also essential to ensure investors limit the fees they pay. Low-cost mutual funds are generally the best place to start. In addition to investment management fees, investors must be careful about how much they spend on investment advice. Good advice is priceless, but it should be affordable if you search for the right people that want to help you. I continually educate myself about being financially independent. This financial literacy can make meaningful contributions to enjoying a happy life. So, I frequently read about sound investment approaches and seek ways to live within my means. I also share ideas with friends and family whenever I can. Hopefully, more people will continue educating themselves and improving their financial situations.

The best financial advice I have received is to minimize debt (like seeking scholarships) and invest early and often. This information is key to having financial literacy and, ultimately, financial independence. When self-educating about financial literacy, it is critical to ensure you seek advice from qualified and trusted sources. You must avoid the vast amount of bad information. Many people on YouTube and TikTok lack knowledge or are only motivated by increasing followers. Generally speaking, investors should be cautious about grandiose proclamations that don't consider your needs as an individual. The most important thing to remember regarding financial literacy is to ensure that your information and advice come from qualified sources with appropriate incentives for your success. Minimizing debt is critical and can be approached with an emphasis on different areas. One primary way to minimize debt is to minimize your spending. It sounds simple, but it is challenging to execute; Don't spend money you don't have. Avoid fancy apartments, expensive cars, and fancy restaurants. Live within your means. Another way to minimize debt is through hard work. College students should minimize student loans through work-study and part-time jobs. Many college students act like loan repayments are in the distant future, so they don't worry about it. Assuming debt without careful planning is a big mistake. One final thought about debt: try to limit debt to things that have the potential to appreciate, like real estate or yourself (like investing in education) Investing early (and often) is another core component of having financial literacy and security. The power of compounding is fantastic and most powerful with the benefit of time. Thus, people need to start investing while they are young. Suppose young investors start making sound investments, like broad market indices, early in their lives. In that case, it will significantly improve the probability of financial independence later in life. As dividends are received and reinvested, it grows the size of your investment. Over time, this has a compounding effect on earning dividends on your dividends. The earlier an investor starts, the more powerful this effect can become. In addition to investing early, it is also essential to ensure investors limit the fees they pay. Low-cost mutual funds are generally the best place to start. In addition to investment management fees, investors must be careful about how much they spend on investment advice. Good advice is priceless, but it should be affordable if you search for the right people that want to help you. I continually educate myself about being financially independent. This financial literacy can make meaningful contributions to enjoying a happy life. So, I frequently read about sound investment approaches and seek ways to live within my means. I also share ideas with friends and family whenever I can. Hopefully, more people will continue educating themselves and improving their financial situations.

The food we eat has a significant impact on our health and happiness. Eating healthy can provide many benefits, including lowering the risk of chronic health conditions, supporting a robust immune function, maintaining a sound digestive system, maintaining a healthy weight, keeping healthy bones and teeth, improving energy, supporting brain function, and helping with sleep patterns, and more. Superfoods are packed with nutrition that can increase these healthy eating effects. As a result, superfoods provide an efficient path to a healthy body. In addition to the various health benefits, many superfoods are delicious! Here are some of my favorite examples. Blueberries are a good source of fiber and antioxidants and are naturally sweet. I love them in granola or oatmeal. They are also great as a snack or in smoothies. Salmon is high in omega-3 fatty acids. It is deliciously served in many ways. My favorite is grilled on a cedar plank, seasoned with lemon pepper. Salmon is also great smoked or pan-seared with salt and pepper, or you can try various other seasonings. Leafy greens are a good source of vitamin A, C, calcium, and fiber. My favorite in this category is kale chips. Sprinkle kale with lemon juice, olive oil, salt, pepper, and grated parmesan cheese, then ensure all the leaves are evenly coated and bake at 375 degrees or so for around 8 minutes. Kale chips can be a great side dish or even a snack. Kale is also easy to grow yourself. I grow kale in my backyard with minimal effort. It is handy to have available and harvestable from early summer to late fall. Olive oil is a good source of vitamin E and monounsaturated fatty acids that can help reduce the risk of heart disease. I use olive oil as a base for most cooking and salad dressing. Start with two parts of olive oil, and add one part of lemon juice, salt, and pepper, for a simple and healthy salad dressing. Whole grains are a good source of fiber, B vitamins, and minerals. Whole grains like oatmeal, wheat, and quinoa can lower cholesterol and protect against heart disease. Homemade granola is my favorite way to eat whole grains—mix oatmeal with a bit of olive oil, cinnamon, honey, and vanilla. Then bake at 350 degrees for about 15 minutes, and add dried blueberries or cranberries. The result is a great breakfast or anytime snack. Tomatoes are high in vitamin C and lycopene, which have been shown to have many health benefits. This is another favorite in my home garden. Tomato plants are easy to grow in most climates. Fresh tomatoes are fantastic eaten plain. I also like to make Caprese salad by adding a little mozzarella cheese, fresh basil, olive oil, and balsamic vinegar. These are some of my favorite ways to incorporate superfoods into my diet. I hope it inspires some ideas. Thank you for considering me for this scholarship, Andrew Vos ajv2022@yahoo.com 612-900-9921

Service has shown me how giving a small amount of time can significantly impact the lives of others. I volunteer monthly at Feed My Starving Children. Previously, I volunteered in various ways over five years during my time with Scouts BSA (Boy Scouts), where I earned the rank of Eagle Scout. My final service project was for Loaves and Fishes. I built carnival-style games, including a big Plinko game and a regulation-size bean bag toss game. These games attract potential donors and volunteers to Loaves and Fishes booths at conferences and events and continue to be used to help them advance their mission. Volunteering service to others will be part of my life. Providing service helps establish a purpose for what I do and thus, creates the meaning of my life. My personal goal related to service includes continued time to help others in need. My education and career goals related to service are to help others in meaningful ways by contributing to clean energy. I intend to study chemical engineering, focusing on solar energy and alternative fuel sources that will help preserve our environment and make the world better. Thank you for considering me for this scholarship, Andrew Vos

Making the world a better place is an excellent purpose for any person's life. Thus, it gives life meaning. Service has shown me how giving a small amount of time can significantly impact the lives of others. I volunteer monthly at Feed My Starving Children. Previously, I volunteered in various ways over five years during my time with Scouts BSA (Boy Scouts), where I earned the rank of Eagle Scout. My final service project was for Loaves and Fishes. I built carnival-style games, including a big Plinko game and a regulation-size bean bag toss game. These games attract potential donors and volunteers to Loaves and Fishes booths at conferences and events and continue to be used to help them advance their mission. Volunteering service to others will be part of my life. Providing service helps establish a purpose for what I do and thus, creates the meaning of my life. My personal goal related to service includes continued time to help others in need. My education and career goals related to service are to help others in meaningful ways by contributing to clean energy. I intend to study chemical engineering, focusing on solar energy and alternative fuel sources that will help preserve our environment and make the world better. That will be my meaning. Thank you for considering me for this scholarship, Andrew Vos

I ran up to one hundred miles per week to achieve a goal. The persistence I needed was difficult to maintain, but it was essential to accomplish the goal. I was serving as team captain for my cross country team. It was a highlight of my high school experience. Providing leadership to a group of talented athletes was unforgettable. Leading by example was the most effective approach I applied. It required me to persevere through many situations, which applies to various leadership situations. I set my sample for the team by training as hard as possible. I ran between forty and one hundred miles each week. The dedication and effort were challenging, but I persevered, and the group noticed. The other members of the team began training harder. This training resulted in the team making it to the state cross country meet for the first time in 29 years. The team placed 4th out of 16 teams. This accomplishment was directly attributable to persistence. I intend to continue applying this type of determination when time gets difficult and hopefully set a positive example, especially in opportunities to serve others. Thank you for considering me for this scholarship, Andrew Vos

Serving others has been a significant part of my life. I have been an active volunteer for various organizations for as long as I can remember. Much of my service has been through Scouts BSA, where I earned the rank of Eagle Scout. I have also participated in volunteer projects through my membership in the National Honor Society. I have earned recognition for my volunteer efforts, including the Presidential Award for Community Service and a varsity letter from my high school for Community Service. My service has been with organizations that support under-represented people in my community, including Loaves and Fishes, the Salvation Army, park districts, homeless shelters, and food shelves. Giving time and talent is an authentic demonstration of generosity. Eleven years ago, my family started an initiative to visit all the national parks in the United States. My family has seen 53 of the 63 National Parks as of this writing. My visits to these parks and other protected areas have influenced my interest in preserving the environment. I have been fortunate to meet many people that have dedicated their careers to critical research and education. Glaciers that are millions of years old are melting at a fast pace. Sea levels are rising. Habitats of forests, deserts, grasslands, and wetlands are changing. As a result, I have found my inspiration to study engineering to create solutions that will enable improvements to our natural environment and the effects of climate change. Pursuing a career with a social purpose like preserving the environment is another form of generosity. I am excited to begin my engineering studies to help make the world a better place. Thank you for considering me for this scholarship, Andrew Vos

I have visited 53 of the 63 National Parks so far, and I am planning to visit more this year. My visits to National Parks and other protected areas have cultivated my love of nature. Seeing the diversity and fragility of environments within the United States has influenced my interest in preserving the environment. Visiting with Park Rangers and Naturalists has been an inspiration. I have been fortunate to meet many people that have dedicated their careers to critical research and education. Seeing the impacts of climate change firsthand has been transformative for me. Glaciers that are millions of years old are melting at a fast pace. Sea levels are rising. Habitats of forests, deserts, grasslands, and wetlands are changing. This has inspired me to study engineering as a way to solve problems and create solutions that will enable improvements to our natural environment and the effects of climate change. I intend to study chemical engineering with a focus on clean energy. Various clean energy technologies offer exciting opportunities to help solve climate change challenges. Solar power, biofuels, and battery technologies are just a few examples of clean energy solutions chemical engineers will address. Protecting fragile environments is the best way to appreciate them. I will continue to visit amazing natural places to raise awareness of how special they are and pursue a career that will preserve them.

The best financial advice I have received is to minimize debt (like seeking scholarships) and invest early and often. The power of compounding is fantastic and most powerful with the benefit of time. Thus, people need to start investing while they are young. Suppose young investors start making sound investments, like broad market indices, early in their lives. In that case, it will significantly improve the probability of financial independence later in life. As dividends are received and reinvested, it grows the size of your investment. Over time, this has a compounding effect on earning dividends on your dividends. The earlier an investor starts, the more powerful this effect can become. In addition to investing early, it is also essential to ensure investors limit the amount of fees they pay. Low-cost mutual funds are generally the best place to start. In addition to investment management fees, investors need to be careful about how much they spend on investment advice. Good advice is priceless, but it shouldn't be expensive if you search for the right people that want to help you. Another great piece of financial advice is to ensure you seek advice from suitable sources. Qualified and trusted sources of information are available. Still, you need to avoid the vast amount of information that is either bad or not suited for most investors. Many people on YouTube and TicTok are not knowledgeable or interested in the best interest of investors. Generally speaking, investors should be cautious about grandiose proclamations that don't consider your needs as an individual. I am fortunate to have people close to me that understand investing. Hopefully, more people will continue educating themselves and improving their financial situations.

My name is Andrew Vos. I have visited 53 of the 63 National Parks so far, and I plan to visit more later this year. My visits to National Parks and other protected areas have influenced my interest in preserving the environment, which I view as one of the world's most significant concerns. Visiting with Park Rangers and Naturalists has been an inspiration. I have been fortunate to meet many people that have dedicated their careers to meaningful research and education. Seeing the impacts of climate change firsthand has been transformative for me. Glaciers that are millions of years old are melting at a fast pace. Sea levels are rising. Habitats of forests, deserts, grasslands, and wetlands are changing. This has inspired me to study engineering. I intend to solve problems and create solutions that will enable improvements to our natural environment and the effects of climate change. I intend to study chemical engineering with a focus on clean energy. Various clean energy technologies offer exciting opportunities to help solve climate change challenges. Solar power, biofuels, and battery technologies are just a few examples of clean energy solutions that future chemical engineers like me will address. Creating the technology to develop powerful batteries with renewable resources would be a significant achievement. The environmental impacts of mining precious metals have been devastating for some areas. So, just relieving the mining pressure on the environment could be a conservation victory. However, when considering the reduction of other fossil fuels that can be replaced with batteries, the positive impacts can multiply. I appreciate your consideration, Andrew Vos

Running is very effective for mental health. I run for the Cross Country and Track teams at my high school. My current training routine involves running about 75 miles per week. If life or school is causing stress, running is a great way to help me cope. Pushing myself physically helps calm my mind and improve my focus. Sometimes, it can be painful to run long distances, but the pain is manageable if you focus on your body and the task at hand. More importantly, this focus enables your mind to gain clarity and thus manage stress and improve mental health. I recommend physical activity as a tool to manage stress for all my friends. Exercise is excellent and very effective in managing mental health. However, it's not exactly relaxing, and relaxation is also essential. So, to relax, I always go for a great popcorn movie or a mindless video game to unwind.

Eleven years ago, my family started an initiative to visit all the national parks of the United States. There are currently 63 sites managed by the National Park Service with the "National Park" designation. As of this writing, my family has visited 51 of them, with plans established to see five more this year. My visits to National Parks and other protected areas have influenced my interest in preserving the environment. Visiting with Park Rangers and Naturalists has been an inspiration. I have been fortunate to meet many people that have dedicated their careers to critical research and education. Seeing the impacts of climate change firsthand has been transformative for me. Glaciers that are millions of years old are melting at a fast pace. Sea levels are rising. Habitats of forests, deserts, grasslands, and wetlands are changing. This has inspired me to study engineering to solve problems and create solutions that will enable improvements to our natural environment and the effects of climate change. Traveling to national parks is my hobby. I plan to use the inspiration from this hobby to study chemical engineering with a focus on clean energy. Solar power, biofuels, and battery technologies are just a few examples of clean energy solutions chemical engineers can address. Biofuels and battery technologies are of particular interest to me. Making the world a better place through success in my engineering career will begin with my college experience. Thank you for considering me for this scholarship.

Eleven years ago, my family started an initiative to visit all the national parks of the United States. There are currently 63 sites managed by the National Park Service with the "National Park" designation. As of this writing, my family has visited 51 of them, with plans established to see five more this year. My visits to National Parks and other protected areas have influenced my interest in preserving the environment. Visiting with Park Rangers and Naturalists has been an inspiration. I have been fortunate to meet many people that have dedicated their careers to critical research and education. Seeing the impacts of climate change firsthand has been transformative for me. Glaciers that are millions of years old are melting at a fast pace. Sea levels are rising. Habitats of forests, deserts, grasslands, and wetlands are changing. This has inspired me to study engineering to solve problems and create solutions that will enable improvements to our natural environment and the effects of climate change. My bucket list includes visiting the 12 national parks I have yet to see and then studying chemical engineering focusing on clean energy. Solar power, biofuels, and battery technologies are just a few examples of clean energy solutions chemical engineers can address. Biofuels and battery technologies are of particular interest to me. Making the world a better place through success in my engineering career will begin with my college experience. Thank you for considering me for this scholarship.

Eleven years ago, my family started an initiative to visit all the national parks of the United States. There are currently 63 sites managed by the National Park Service with the "National Park" designation. As of this writing, my family has visited 51 of them, with plans established to see five more this year. My visits to National Parks and other protected areas have influenced my interest in preserving the environment. Visiting with Park Rangers and Naturalists has been an inspiration. I have been fortunate to meet many people that have dedicated their careers to critical research and education. Seeing the impacts of climate change firsthand has been transformative for me. Glaciers that are millions of years old are melting at a fast pace. Sea levels are rising. Habitats of forests, deserts, grasslands, and wetlands are changing. This has inspired me to study engineering to solve problems and create solutions that will enable improvements to our natural environment and the effects of climate change. I have been fortunate to visit dozens of fascinating places, and I will pay it forward by helping protect them for future generations. I intend to study chemical engineering with a focus on clean energy. Various clean energy technologies offer exciting opportunities to help solve climate change challenges. Solar power, biofuels, and battery technologies are just a few examples of clean energy solutions chemical engineers can address. Biofuels and battery technologies are of particular interest to me. Making the world a better place through success in my engineering career will begin with my college experience. I am passionate about the subjects I intend to study, and I want to ensure I surround myself with people who share similar values. I appreciate your consideration.

I enjoy travel, especially visiting U.S. National Parks. I have seen 51 of the 63 National Parks and plan to visit more this year. My visits to National Parks and other protected areas have influenced my interest in preserving the environment. Visiting with Park Rangers and Naturalists has been an inspiration. I have been fortunate to meet many people that have dedicated their careers to important research and education. Seeing the impacts of climate change firsthand has been transformative for me. It has inspired me to study engineering to solve problems and create solutions that will enable improvements to our natural environment and the effects of climate change. I intend to study chemical engineering with a focus on clean energy. Various clean energy technologies offer exciting opportunities to help solve climate change challenges. Solar power, biofuels, and battery technologies are just a few examples of clean energy solutions chemical engineers will address. Creating the technology to develop powerful batteries with renewable resources would be a significant achievement, and I want my legacy to include this accomplishment. In addition to this professional legacy, I hope my personal life will enable me to provide experiences for others as my parents have provided to me. I appreciate your consideration, Andrew Vos

Friendship is the ultimate simple pleasure, and it always makes me happy. Friendship means having people in your life that are important to you. It's about genuinely wishing the best for other people. It's about helping other people be the best they can be. It's about providing support for other people with no reciprocal expectations. It's about being a part of something bigger than yourself. Friendship is one of the essential things in life and can support many aspects of success. The important attribute of success that friendship helps is being happy. I can't think of a truly happy person that doesn't have friends, nor should anyone be considered successful unless they are truly happy. Thus, friendship means success and happiness. Sometimes, having a friend can be confirmed by knowing you can spend time with that person without actually doing anything at all. Authenticity is important when determining if someone is actually a friend. It's not always easy, but friendships are the best things in the world, and they make me happy. Thank you for considering me for this scholarship.

My name is Andrew Vos. I am a high school senior at Minnetonka High School in Minnetonka, MN. I maintain a GPA of over 3.85, and my favorite subject is chemistry. I am bilingual in English and Spanish. I am a captain of the Track & Field and Cross Country teams, an Eagle Scout, a member of the National Honor Society, a recipient of the Presidential Award for Community Service, as well as a good brother, son, and friend. Eleven years ago, my family started an initiative to visit all the national parks of the United States. My family has visited 51 of the 63 parks so far and planning to see five more this year. My visits to these protected areas have influenced my interest in preserving the environment. Visiting with Park Rangers and Naturalists has been an inspiration. Seeing the impacts of climate change firsthand has been transformative for me. This has inspired me to study engineering to solve problems and create solutions that will enable improvements to our natural environment and the effects of climate change. I intend to study chemical engineering with a focus on clean energy. Various clean energy technologies offer exciting opportunities to help solve climate change challenges. Solar power, biofuels, and battery technologies are just a few examples of clean energy solutions chemical engineers can address. Biofuels and battery technologies are of particular interest to me. Making the world a better place through success in my engineering career will begin with my college experience. I am passionate about the subjects I intend to study. I learned this about myself through my travels to National Parks and other protected natural environments. Thanks for considering me for this scholarship.

Service has shown me how giving a small amount of time can have a massive impact on the lives of others. Serving others within my school and outside of school has also provided a valuable perspective. I volunteer monthly at Feed My Starving Children. Previously, I volunteered in various ways, at least monthly for five years during my time with Scouts BSA (Boy Scouts), where I earned the rank of Eagle Scout. My final service project was for Loaves and Fishes. I built carnival-style games, including a big Plinko game and a regulation-size bean bag toss game. These games attract potential donors and volunteers to Loaves and Fishes booths at conferences and events and continue to be used to help them advance their mission. Volunteering service to others will be part of my life. Providing service helps establish a purpose for what I do. My personal goal related to service includes continued time to help others in need. My education and career goals related to service are to help others in meaningful ways by contributing to clean energy and making the world better. Thank you for considering me for this scholarship.

Perseverance has helped me in many ways. Serving as team captain for my cross country team was a highlight of my high school experience. Providing leadership to a group of talented athletes was unforgettable. Leading by example was the most effective approach I applied. It required me to persevere through many situations, and I intend to continue that approach in future leadership opportunities. I set my example for the team by training as hard as possible. I ran between forty and one hundred miles each week. The dedication and effort were challenging, but I persevered, and the group noticed. The other members of the team began training harder. This resulted in the team making it to the state cross country meet for the first time in 29 years. The team placed 4th out of 16 teams. This accomplishment was directly attributable to perseverance. I intend to continue applying perseverance when time gets difficult and hopefully set a positive example, especially in service areas to others. Thank you for considering me for this scholarship.

My name is Andrew Vos. I am a high school senior at Minnetonka High School in Minnetonka, MN. I maintain a GPA of over 3.85, and my favorite subject is chemistry. I am bilingual in English and Spanish. I am a captain of the Track & Field and Cross Country teams, an Eagle Scout, a member of the National Honor Society, a recipient of the Presidential Award for Community Service, as well as a good brother, son, and friend. I also enjoy skiing, basketball, and travel. COVID-19 introduced several opportunities for me. Remote learning was not ideal, but it encouraged me to improve my focus and dedication. I am diagnosed with dyslexia, so reading and writing are difficult for me. This made remote learning a little more complicated, but that difficulty made me stronger. Attending class in person enables a student to more easily listen to the teacher's lesson, but I feel remote learning requires more focus to avoid distractions and absorb the material. I improved my ability to retain information because of this experience, and as a result, I am a stronger student. Another opportunity I received from COVID-19 was more time with my family and the ability to see more of our country. My mom, dad, brother, and sister started visiting National Parks about ten years ago. During COVID, especially the summer months, my parents could spend more time away from home. We traveled to several parts of the country with our camper. We have now visited 51 of the 63 National Parks so far, with plans to see more this year. My visits to National Parks and other protected areas have influenced my interest in preserving the environment. This influence probably drives my future working career. Visiting with Park Rangers and Naturalists has been an inspiration. I have been fortunate to meet many people that have dedicated their careers to important research and education. Seeing the impacts of climate change firsthand has been transformative for me. Glaciers that are millions of years old are melting at a fast pace. Sea levels are rising. Habitats of forests, deserts, grasslands, and wetlands are changing. This has inspired me to study engineering to solve problems and create solutions that will enable improvements to our natural environment and the effects of climate change. I intend to study chemical engineering with a focus on clean energy. Various clean energy technologies offer exciting opportunities to help solve climate change challenges. Solar power, biofuels, and battery technologies are just a few examples of clean energy solutions chemical engineers will address. Biofuels and battery technologies are of particular interest to me. Thank you for considering me for this scholarship.

Friendship is the ultimate simple pleasure. Friendship means having people in your life that are important to you. It's about genuinely wishing the best for other people. It's about helping other people be the best they can be. It's about providing support for other people with no reciprocal expectations. It's about being a part of something bigger than yourself. Friendship is one of the most important things in life and can support many aspects of success. The essential attribute of success that friendship helps is the ability to be happy. I can't think of a truly happy person that doesn't have friends, nor should anyone be considered successful unless they are truly happy. Thus, friendship means success and happiness. Sometimes, having a friend can be confirmed by knowing you can spend time with that person without actually doing anything at all. Authenticity is important when determining if someone is actually a friend. It's not always easy, but friendships are the best things in the world, and they are simple.

My name is Andrew Vos. I am a high school senior at Minnetonka High School in Minnetonka, MN. Eleven years ago, my family started an initiative to visit all the national parks of the United States. There are currently 63 sites managed by the National Park Service with the "National Park" designation. As of this writing, my family has visited 51 of them, with plans to see five more this year. My visits to National Parks and other protected areas have influenced my interest in protecting the environment. Visiting with Park Rangers and Naturalists has been an inspiration. I have been fortunate to meet many people that have dedicated their careers to critical research and education. Seeing the impacts of climate change firsthand has been transformative for me. Glaciers that are millions of years old are melting at a fast pace. Sea levels are rising. Habitats of forests, deserts, grasslands, and wetlands are changing. This has inspired me to study engineering to solve problems and create solutions that will enable improvements to our natural environment and the effects of climate change. I intend to study chemical engineering with a focus on clean energy. Various clean energy technologies offer exciting opportunities to help solve climate change challenges. Solar power, biofuels, and battery technologies are just a few examples of clean energy solutions chemical engineers can address. Biofuels and battery technologies are of particular interest to me. Making the world a better place through success in my engineering career will begin with my college experience. I am passionate about the subjects I intend to study. I appreciate your consideration for this scholarship.

Friendship is critical for success and happiness. Friendship means having people in your life that you care about. Its about truly wishing the best for other people. It's about helping other people be the best they can be, and providing support for other people with no reciprocal expectations. Its about being a part of something bigger than yourself. Friendship is one of the most important things in life and can support many aspects of success. The most important attribute of success that friendship supports is the ability to be happy. I can't think of a truly happy person that doesn't have friends, nor should anyone be considered successful unless they are truly happy. Thus, friendship means success and happiness. Sometimes, having a friend can be confirmed by knowing you can spend time with that person without actually doing anything at all. Authenticity is important when determining if someone is actually a friend. Its not always easy, but friendships are the best things in the world.

Invest early...and often! The power of compounding is amazing. If young investors start making sound investments, like broad market indices, early in their lives, it will greatly improve probability of financial independence later in life. As dividends are received and reinvested it grows the size of your investment. Overtime, this has a compounding affect of earning dividends on your dividends. The earlier an investor starts, the more powerful this effect can become. Its also important to ensure investors limit the amount of fees they pay. Low cost mutual funds are generally the best place to start. I learned that from my Dad. The single most important thing about investing is to ensure you get advice from a qualified and trusted resource. There are a lot of people on YouTube and TicTok that should be avoided. Good advice is priceless, but it shouldn't be expensive if you search for the right people that want to help you.

My name is Andrew Vos. I am passionate about protecting the environment by contributing to meaningful solutions in clean energy. I am a high school senior at Minnetonka High School in Minnetonka, MN. I maintain a GPA of over 3.9 and my favorite subject is chemistry. I am bilingual in English and Spanish. I am a captain of the Track & Field and Cross Country teams, an Eagle Scout, a member of the National Honor Society, a recipient of the Presidential Award for Community Service, as well as a good brother, son, and friend. I enjoy international travel, but I have been focused on visiting U.S. National Parks. I have visited 51 of the 63 National Parks so far, with plans to visit more this year. My visits to National Parks and other protected areas have influenced my interest in protecting the environment. Visiting with Park Rangers and Naturalists has been an inspiration. I have been fortunate to meet many people that have dedicated their careers to important research and education. Seeing the impacts of climate change firsthand has been transformative for me. Glaciers that are millions of years old are melting at a fast pace. Sea levels are rising. Habitats of forests, deserts, grasslands, and wetlands are changing. This has inspired me to study engineering as a way to solve problems and create solutions that will enable improvements to our natural environment and the effects of climate change. I intend to study chemical engineering with a focus on clean energy. Various clean energy technologies offer exciting opportunities to help solve climate change challenges. Solar power, biofuels, and battery technologies are just a few examples of clean energy solutions that will be addressed by chemical engineers, like me, someday soon. Thank you for your consideration, Andrew Vos

My name is Andrew Vos. I am a high school senior at Minnetonka High School in Minnetonka, MN. I maintain a GPA of over 3.9 and my favorite subject is chemistry. I am bilingual in English and Spanish. I am a captain of the Track & Field and Cross Country teams, an Eagle Scout, a member of the National Honor Society, a recipient of the Presidential Award for Community Service, as well as a good brother, son, and friend. I also enjoy skiing, basketball, and travel. I enjoy international travel, but I have been focused on visiting U.S. National Parks. I have visited 51 of the 63 National Parks so far, with plans to visit more this year. My visits to National Parks and other protected areas have influenced my interest in protecting the environment. Visiting with Park Rangers and Naturalists has been an inspiration. I have been fortunate to meet many people that have dedicated their careers to important research and education. Seeing the impacts of climate change firsthand has been transformative for me. Glaciers that are millions of years old are melting at a fast pace. Sea levels are rising. Habitats of forests, deserts, grasslands, and wetlands are changing. This has inspired me to study engineering as a way to solve problems and create solutions that will enable improvements to our natural environment and the effects of climate change. I intend to study chemical engineering with a focus on clean energy. Various clean energy technologies offer exciting opportunities to help solve climate change challenges. Solar power, biofuels, and battery technologies are just a few examples of clean energy solutions that will be addressed by chemical engineers, and I intend to be one of them who makes the world a better place. Thank you for your consideration, Andrew Vos

Service has shown me how giving a small amount of time can have a huge impact on the lives of others. Serving others within my school as well as outside of school has also provided a valuable perspective. I volunteer monthly at Feed My Starving Children. Previously, I volunteered in various ways at least monthly over the course of 5 years during my time with Scouts BSA (Boy Scouts), where I earned the rank of Eagle Scout. My final service project was for Loaves and Fishes where I built carnival style games, including a large plinko game and a regulation size bean bag toss game. These games attract potential donors and volunteers to Loaves and Fishes booths at conferences and events, and continue to be used to help them advance their mission. Volunteering service to others will be part of my life. Providing service helps establish purpose for what I do. My personal goal related to service includes continued time to help others in need. My education and career goals related to service are to help others in meaningful ways by contributing to clean energy and make the world a better place.

Service has shown me how giving a small amount of time can have a huge impact on the lives of others. Serving others within my school as well as outside of school has also provided a valuable perspective. I volunteer monthly at Feed My Starving Children. Previously, I volunteered in various ways at least monthly over the course of 5 years during my time with Scouts BSA (Boy Scouts), where I earned the rank of Eagle Scout. My final service project was for Loaves and Fishes where I built carnival style games, including a large plinko game and a regulation size bean bag toss game. These games attract potential donors and volunteers to Loaves and Fishes booths at conferences and events, and continue to be used to help them advance their mission. Volunteering service to others will be part of my life. Providing service helps establish purpose for what I do. My personal goal related to service includes continued time to help others in need. My education and career goals related to service are to help others in meaningful ways by contributing to clean energy and make the world a better place.

Serving as team captain for my high school cross country running team inspired me to seek more leadership opportunities. This experience helped me learn to lead by example. As team captain, I was expected to motivate the team members. I learned that motivating people was most effective when I earned their respect first. Earning respect can take time and requires authenticity. In my opinion, people that seek leadership just for the opportunity to lead are ineffective. I had success as a team leader because I genuinely wanted the team to succeed. I worked hard to be supportive of the team members. The team can only win races when multiple runners perform well, so it is important to help everyone improve, not just a few of the strongest runners. Demonstrating sincere support and respect for the entire team enabled that respect to reciprocate. However, the most effective way I earned respect was through my own training. I trained very diligently. As the team members noticed my effort and authenticity, they were more likely to train harder themselves. This naturally resulted in me leading by example. I never asked the team to do something I didn’t do myself. Our diligent training made the entire team better and produced excellent results. The team took first place in our Section meet, and then the team went to the State meet for the first time in 29 years. Not only did we qualify for the meet, but we placed 4th out of 16 teams. This was a great accomplishment because none of us on the team had ever competed at the State meet before, not even for an individual event. We performed and succeeded as a team. It was a very proud moment. The best part was that the entire team felt a sense of pride. As a result of this team captain experience, I am now inspired to seek leadership roles in school and my career. Successful leadership has a meaningful impact on people. I intend to seek effective leaders to follow, and serve as a leader whenever I think it will benefit others.

My name is Andrew Vos. I am a high school senior at Minnetonka High School in Minnetonka, MN. I maintain a GPA of over 3.85 and my favorite subject is chemistry. I am a dedicated Spanish immersion student, a captain of the Track & Field and Cross Country teams, an Eagle Scout, a member of the National Honor Society, a recipient of the Presidential Award for Community Service, as well as a good brother, son, and friend. I also enjoy skiing, basketball, and travel. I enjoy international travel, but I have been focused on visiting U.S. National Parks. I have visited 51 of the 63 National Parks so far, with plans to visit more this year. My visits to National Parks and other protected areas have influenced my interest in protecting the environment. Visiting with Park Rangers and Naturalists has been an inspiration. I have been fortunate to meet many people that have dedicated their careers to important research and education. Seeing the impacts of climate change firsthand has been transformative for me. Glaciers that are millions of years old are melting at a fast pace. Sea levels are rising. Habitats of forests, deserts, grasslands, and wetlands are changing. This has inspired me to study engineering as a way to solve problems and create solutions that will enable improvements to our natural environment and the effects of climate change. I intend to study chemical engineering with a focus on clean energy. Various clean energy technologies offer exciting opportunities to help solve climate change challenges. Solar power, biofuels, and battery technologies are just a few examples of clean energy solutions that will be addressed by chemical engineers. Biofuels and battery technologies are of particular interest to me. Improving the efficiency of biofuels, especially those made with algae can offer fascinating renewable clean energy solutions. I think a link should be explored between biofuels and battery technology. A completely new battery technology using renewable resources is possible. An electrochemical cell battery can be created with a lemon or a potato. As a result, I believe it is conceivable to create a new battery technology that uses mostly renewable resources. The world probably doesn't have enough nickel and lithium to meet the future demand for batteries, so renewable resources are the only logical solution. Successfully creating the technology to create powerful batteries with renewable resources would be a major achievement. The environmental impacts of mining precious metals have been devastating for some areas. So, just relieving the mining pressure on the environment could be a conservation victory. However, when considering the reduction of other fossil fuels that can be replaced with batteries, the positive impacts can multiply. Thank you for your consideration, Andrew Vos

Solving impacts from climate change is a problem I am most passionate about. Travels to national parks and other natural environments have enabled my to observe the effects of climate change first hand, and this has inspired me to help solve the problem. I take various actions to make a positive impact on the climate. My actions can be categorized into daily actions, education and advocacy, and career goals. Daily actions include minimizing use of disposable materials and minimizing use of fossil fuels. I use reusable water bottles, avoid using other disposable plastic, including straws, I prioritize businesses that use recycled or compostable materials, and of course, I recycle everything I can. I also carpool when possible and even encouraged my parents to purchase a plug-in hybrid vehicle, and our next family vehicle will be all electric. We can all make small changes in our lives that can make real improvements for our environment. Education and advocacy plays another important part of how I make positive impacts on the climate. I have visited 51 of the 63 national parks, in addition to countless national monuments, memorials and state parks. This exposure to sensitive and protected natural environments has underscored the importance of mitigating the impact of climate change. I continue educating myself about climate impacts and I tell friends and family about the importance of climate change. I also intend to work on more advocacy in the future. Convincing people to make small changes in their consumption practices and minor lifestyle choices will make meaningful progress for our environment. I am hopeful that my career goal will enable me to contribute to education and advocacy about climate friendly practices. However, if my job doesn't allow me to contribute to this goal, I will support non-profit groups that focus on this important education and advocacy need. My career goals are focused on improving the natural environment to mitigate the impact of climate change. I intend to study chemical engineering with a focus on clean energy. Various clean energy solutions offer exciting opportunities to help solve climate change challenges. Solar power, bio fuels, and battery technologies are just a few examples of clean energy solutions that could be addressed by chemical engineers. The transferable skills learned by chemical engineers can also be applied to other related areas. As a result, studying chemical engineering is a high priority for me, and should enable me to make meaningful contributions to improving the environment. Thank you for considering me for this scholarship.

My dog Daisy loves holidays, however, Christmas is certainly her favorite. She loves getting new treats and opening present with the family. Her favorite toys are rope toys and squeek toys.

I take various actions to make a positive impact on the climate. My actions can be categorized into daily actions, education and advocacy, and career goals. Daily actions include minimizing use of disposable materials and minimizing use of fossil fuels. I use reusable water bottles, avoid plastic straws, prioritize businesses that use recycled or compostable materials, and of course, I recycle everything I can. I also carpool when possible and even encouraged my parents to purchase a plug-in hybrid vehicle, and our next family vehicle will be all electric. Education and advocacy plays another important part of how I make positive impacts on the climate. I have visited 51 of the 63 national parks, in addition to countless national monuments, memorials and state parks. This exposure to sensitive and protected natural environments has underscored the importance of mitigating the impact of climate change. I continue educating myself about climate impacts and I tell friends and family about the importance of climate change. I also intend to work on more advocacy in the future. My career goals are focused on improving the natural environment to mitigate the impact of climate change. I intend to study chemical engineering with a focus on clean energy. Thank you for considering me for this scholarship.

My academic goal is to complete a degree in engineering that can be applied to helping advance the clean energy industry. A degree in chemical engineering is a primary focus since this field of study can apply to a variety of opportunities. During my time in college, I also intend to study abroad. Gaining perspective from other cultures is very important when solving difficult problems and studying abroad should be a rare opportunity to broaden by perspective. I am fluent in Spanish, so studying in a Spanish speaking country would be preferable. My career goal is to advance the availability of clean energy. I intend to join a leading company in this field after college, and eventually, apply what I have learned to an entrepreneurial venture that will maximize the impact I can provide. I am passionate about the environment and believe that advancements in clean energy is key to protecting natural resources. My personal goals are primarily related to family. I want to maintain strong relationships with my parents and siblings.

Perseverance has helped me in many ways. Serving as team captain for a state tournament cross country team was a highlight of my high school experience. Providing leadership to a team of talented athletes was unforgettable. Leading by example was the most effective approach I applied. It required me to persevere through many situations and I intend to continue that approach in future leadership opportunities. I set my example for the team by training harder than anyone else. The dedication and effort was difficult, but I persevered, and the team noticed. The other members of team began training harder. This resulted in the team making it to the state cross country meet for the first time in 29 years. The team placed 4th out of 16 teams. This accomplishment was directly attributable to perseverance. I intend to continue applying perseverance when time get difficult, and hopefully set a positive example, especially in areas of service to others.

Service has shown me how giving a small amount of time can have a huge impact on the lives of others. Serving others within my school as well as outside of school has also provided a valuable perspective. I volunteer monthly at Feed My Starving Children. Previously, I volunteered in various ways at least monthly over the course of 5 years during my time with Scouts BSA (Boy Scouts), where I earned the rank of Eagle Scout. My final service project was for Loaves and Fishes where I built carnival style games, including a large plinko game and a regulation size bean bag toss game. These games attract potential donors and volunteers to Loaves and Fishes booths at conferences and events, and continue to be used to help them advance their mission. Volunteering service to others will be part of my life. Providing service helps establish purpose for what I do. My personal goal related to service includes continued time to help others in need. My education and career goals related to service are to help others in meaningful ways by contributing to clean energy and make the world a better place.

Friendship is critical for success and happiness. Friendship means having people in your life that you care about. Its about truly wishing the best for other people. Its about helping other people be the best they can be. Its about providing support for other people with no reciprical expectations. Its about being a part of something bigger than yourself. Friendship is one of the most important things in life and can support many aspects of success. The most important attribute of success that friendship supports is the ability to be happy. I can't think of a truly happy person that doesn't have friends, nor should anyone be considered successful unless they are truly happy. Thus, friendship means success and happiness. Sometimes, having a friend can be confirmed by knowing you can spend time with that person without actually doing anything at all. Authenticity is important when determining if someone is actually a friend. Its not always easy, but friendships are the best things in the world.

I stay true to myself by being honest. I strive to be authentic. I focus on the things I can control. These attributes are very important when it comes to "staying true to yourself" because it requires a good understanding of priorities, but even more importantly, it requires understanding and acceptance of who I am. I have found that its easiest to understand myself by avoiding unrealistic and unauthentic influences in the media, especially social media. Its important to filter the noise and focus on the most important things, like family, friends and making positive contributions to my community. This focus enables authenticity. After I enable authenticity in my character, I am in a better position to focus on the other things I can control. This is important because we all face many challenges and situations where there are many things out of our control. It becomes overwhelming to attempt to influence things that you cannot change. Rather, I try to focus energy on how I respond to situations, the effort I make, and how I spend my time and determine my priorities. Thus, striving for authenticity and focusing on the things I can control, enable me to stay true to myself.

Live BELOW your means! Its easy to get caught-up in materialism. Financial freedom is much easier to obtain if you focus on what really matters and live below your means.

Invest early...and often! The power of compounding is amazing. If young investors start making sound investments, like broad market indices, early in their lives, it will ensure financial independence later in life. As dividends are received and reinvested it grows the size of your investment. Overtime, this has a compounding affect of earning dividends on your dividends. The earlier an investor starts, the more powerful this effect can become. Its also important to ensure investors limit the amount of fees they pay. Low cost mutual funds are generally the best place to start. I learned that from my Dad. The single most important thing about investing is to ensure you get advice from a qualified and trusted resource. There are a lot of people on YouTube and TicTok that should be avoided. Good advice is priceless, but it shouldn't be expensive if you search for the right people that want to help you.